Visit Domaine Arnaud Ente – tasting of the 2016s from cask

In early November 2017 I had the oportunity to visit Domaine Arnaud Ente – one of the top producers of Meursault.

I have followed the wines of Arnaud Ente over the last 15 years after a Sommelier at the restaurant Le Jardin de Remparts recommended his wines back in the days.

This is a low key producer offering great quality – and tasted versus some of the more “famous” producers like Lafon, Coche-Dury and Roulot – the wines of Arnaud Ente often do very well indeed.

These are wines of purity and balance – rather than wines that are very expressive and forward delivering all the goods at a early stage.

They do nevertheless have a very strong position in the market and in the restaurants, with a great demand – hence also claiming high prices – apparently without the great hype that are associated with some of the names mentioned above.

The Arnaud Ente estate

I have passed Domaine Arnaud Ente many times on my visits to the village of Meursault and it’s a building signaling order, seriousness and attention to detail.

An estate and wines that somehow installs respect and admiration – but also a certain amount of intellectual curiosity.

I was there slightly ahead of schedule, parking on the small triangular square nearby – Meursault can be a pain when finding a parking space for the rental in a safe place, out of reach for tractors and trucks.

I was received by Arnaud Ente when I approaced the front door – he was clearly expecting me.

After a friendly greeting we went to the tasting room – build in connection with the winery – very elegant – tasting the wines with a view to the stainless steel tanks in the chai.

Arnaud is clearly a perfectionist – with a strong attention to detail – but in a very friendly and calm way – presumably coming from years of experience perfecting his lovely wines.

Arnaud had prepared samples – attention to detail – so a very calm setting at the tasting table – and a great opportunity to talk about the estate and the 2016s.

The Arnaud Ente wines

I have as mentioned followed the wines of Arnaud Ente for more than a decade – and always been intrigued by the style – and enjoyed them more and more as the wines have been perfected over the years.

They do in my view have a certain “German” quality to them – the acidity is always crisp and focused – a parameter I value highly as a great fan of Mosel wines.

The wines are very pure indeed, quite firmly structured and focused, requiring time to unfold and show full complexity and detail. These are not wines build to please the fans of soft oak soaked whites for early drinking – this is the real deal!

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